If the defendant does not appear in court then the bond will be forfeited and an arrest warrant will be issued for the defendant.  The bail would then become payable in full unless the defendant is recovered in a timely manner.  You may still be responsible to pay for any costs in recovering the defendant.

By definition bail bonds is a written promise signed by a defendant and surety to ensure that a criminal defendant will appear in court at a scheduled time and date, as ordered by the court.  The bail bond amount is set by the court.

Before bail is determined, there are many factor which pay a role in how it is determined.  The first would be if the defendant has any previous criminal history.  If bail was ever set before, your appearance in court will also be considered.  Things that would affect bail decisions in a positive way would be, if the defendant has any community connections, a regular job, or any family ties in the area. Mental state and character are also considered.

Rates are either statutory or filed by the insurance company that is underwriting the bond with each state being unique.  Since statutes vary from state to state it is best to refer to your local statutes for the most detailed and up to date information.

Depending on the amount of the bond collateral may be needed.  It is best to call and discuss the details with a bail agent to further discuss whether or not collateral is needed.  In general, most agents will take real property, cash, credit or other forms in certain circumstances.